Campos basin Itaipu discovery tests at 5,600 b/d

A BP PLC-led group has reported drillstem test rates as high as 5,600 b/d of oil from the Itaipu-1A presalt discovery well in the Campos basin offshore Brazil.

The rate was achieved on a 32/64-in. choke for 32 hr from a limited perforated interval, and results from pressure build-up after the main flow period indicated good reservoir connectivity, BP said. The company set long-term pressure monitoring gauges in the wellbore before suspending operations.

Neil Piggott, BP vice-president for exploration Brazil, said, “This is a good result for the Itaipu project, indicating that commercially viable flow rates can be achieved from this presalt carbonate reservoir.”

The deepwater Itaipu-1A well is on Block BM-C-32 about 125 km off Brazil. Devon Energy Corp. drilled the well in 2009, and BP purchased Devon’s interests in Brazil in 2011.

The Itaipu-2 appraisal well was drilled in 2011. A second appraisal well location, Itaipu-3, has been agreed with the Brazilian National Petroleum Agency (ANP) to be spudded later this year.

BP is operator of BM-C-32 with a 40% equity, Anadarko Petroleum Corp. has 33.3%, and Maersk Energia Ltda. Has 26.7%.